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MacBook 5,2 Mid 2009 A1181 Bluetooth 4.0 LE Handoff Continuity


luki1979
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Ok so I bought old macbook in a mint condition for my wife. This is nvidia model and can be upgraded to El Cap/Yosemite no problem.

I already got SSD and 6GB ram. I need continuity as my wife have an iPhone.

 

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I can solder no problem. I got BCM94360CD combo card, adapter, USB BT4.0 dongle just in case.

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That's existing airport card (image from ifixit)

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Existing BT2.0 card

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I need to find pinout of that Bluetooth connector so I can steal signal and transfer to BCM94360CD adapter. If that's not possible I would like to install small BT4.0 dongle internally.

Stay tuned...

Found this guide on this mighty forum http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/252958-guide-installing-apple-bluetooth-module-in-your-hackintosh/

So I got existing BT pinout. I just need to think about it and wait for all the parts. :)

 

Found more pictures of similar mod for Mac Pro, basically i'll do the same but for MacBook:

 

http://forums.macrumors.com/threads/802-11ac-bt-4-0-and-continuity-handoff-are-working-on-mac-pro-2010-keep-updating.1748061/

 

Edit:

Actual adapter arrived from China.

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I Installed port connector:

Edit: Please don't install any connectors, case will not close. You will need solder the cables straight to the adapter.

 

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Waiting for a new SSD I don't wan't to open that Macbook several times. Next update in couple of days.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Connector was a big mistake as it is too big for the case to close. I had to de-solder.

I must've damaged the adapter when desoldering as it's melted a bit, very poor quality board. 
WI-FI works but when I'm connecting bluetooth line I have white screen and no boot!
I've tried to swap yellow and green cables but it doesn't want to boot. I'm thinking short on usb data line. 
Now I'm stuck as adapter took 3 weeks to arrive from china, I got another one but without USB data inputs. I might try to solder straight to pins on that one. Not good.

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Ok adapter is fine, I've check it with multi meter and there is no short and signal going to correct pins.

However Macbook doesn't boot with Bluetooth D+ and D- connected. I've tried fetch data from USB port and old bluetooth card connector and same thing as soon as I connect D+ MacBook won't boot.
There is only 2 possible causes. Bluetooth part on my BCM94360CD combo card is busted or MacBook is.
I've ordered another card and usb 4.0 dongle supported by OSX just in case. This should arrive in 2 days so not bad.
 
Here is photo of Wireless part of the card working:
 
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More drama. Bluetooth actually works, but only when I hot plug when system is loaded:

25050427102_784065c8f8_z.jpg
24873067990_a0c7368854.jpg
 
Can anybody help me on this? Why system won't boot with bluetooth card connected? 
There is no boot screen only boot sound and white screen. Without D+ connected system boots normally.
Wiring is correct as card is working correctly after hot plug. It's only USB device at the end of the day.
 
 
I'm waiting for the new card and usb BT4.0 dongle and we will see how this behaves.
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Thanks to some guys on a Polish Mac forum, I nailed the problem. USB signal was interfering with PCI-e line hence preventing EFI boot, I covered that pins with tiny strip of electrical tape and everything works.

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This MacBook now have 250GB SSD, 6GB Ram and fast wireless and native bluetooth 4.0.

I removed DVD drive later I'll add 1TB drive in it's space.

Hope that this will help someone, nobody replied here but good luck anyway.

I've made the same post on Macrumors forum and on myapple pl forum.

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  • 2 years later...

Hi luki1979,

 

I actually performed this same process on my own MacBook 5,2 unit, and came across this thread while trying to solve exactly the same issue with the Bluetooth part of the module.

 

For the time being I just remove the D+ and D- soldered cables I put in, and went back to using the stock Bluetooth module, mainly as this is my primary machine and I needed to return it to service ASAP.

 

Did you just cover those two pins on the top of the board (35 and 37)? As looking at the pinouts one is apparently "reserved" and the other is a GND. Though I'm not sue if maybe Apple have slightly bastardised the standard, seeing as it's not intended to be a user serviceable module.

 

Any help much appreciated!

 

Jon

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